view of ascertaining its topography minutely, the better to
decide upon future reservoirs or other structures as they may
be found necessary. The ridge line or watershed inclosing the
Yalley above the dam is 101 mi. in length. The stream is 39
mi. in length, and its tributaries 136 mi. The total area of the
valley is 352 square mi.; and within it are 31 natural lakes and
ponds, many of which are available as reservoirs, and 16 of
which have been minutely surveyed and estimated. '

The revenues from water rents from Oct. 5,1842, to Dec. 31,
1858, have amounted to $6,725,947.98; and the amount has in¬
creased from year to year,—except in 1851 and 1856, when it
fell off.

The public sewers connected with this department, since
Feb. 6, 1846, have cost an expenditure of $163,527.13; and the
amount of $248,572.00 has been collected from permits to connect
premises with the public sewers. The length of sewers con¬
structed by this department since its organization in 1849 has
been 92 mi. 1,340 ft.

¹ The Governors of the Almshouse are elected by single ballot,
one being voted for and two elected. This places the board above
the control of party politics.

2 Public measures for the relief of the poor are among the first
necessities of a civilized government; and one of the earliest
statutes of the General Assembly in 1683 was for this object. In
1699 a law was passed for the relief of the poor at their homes;
and about 1714 the first almshouse was built, on the present site
of the City Hall. In 1795 a lottery of £10,000 was granted for a
new almshouse, and the large brick building on the Park near
Chambers St. (burned in 1854) was erected. In 1811 a tract on
the Past River, at the foot of 26th St., was bought; and the first
stone was laid Aug. 1,1811. The present main edifice at Bellevue
Hospital was opened April 22,1816, as a hospital, penitentiary,
and almshouse, at a cost of $421,109. The management was for
many years intrusted to five commissioners appointed by the
Common Council. In 1822 the average number of paupers was
1,547; and the cost of the establishment for several years was as
follows:—

In 1817.................... $90,886

“ 1818.................... 107,600

“ 1819.................... 105,509

The law then required paupers to be returned to the town
where they had gained residence; but this was often difficult,
and vessels then, as since, often landed paupers in or near the
city from distant places. In 1822 two vessels put about 100
paupers on shore a few miles from the city, and brought on
their baggage. Efforts were made to remedy these abuses; but
it was found difficult in a large population to distinguish those
coming into the city liable to public charge, until they applied
for relief in the early winter months.—Sen. Doc. No. 86, 1824.

Meanwhile the affairs of the institutions at Bellevue became
very corrupt and mercenary; but a malignant fever, which broke
out in 1825 and committed frightful ravages in the filthy wards
and loathsome cells, forced the question of reform upon the
public. In 1845 the Almshouse was placed under the care of a
single commissioner, and in 1849 the present system of super¬
vision went into operation.

Blackwells Island was bought in 1828, and Randalls Island in
1835. In 1848 the Almshouse was completed on the former; and
the whole of both islands is now devoted to objects of charity
and reform, Randalls Island being in part under the care of the
Governors of the Almshouse and in part under the Trustees of
tlie House of Refuge.

Upon Blackwells Island, commencing at the s. end, are located
respectively the Small Pox Hospital, the Penitentiary, Island
Hospital, female and male Almshouses, Workhouse, and Lunatic
Asylum. Upon Wards Island is the Potters’ Field, under the
charge of the Ten Governors; and upon Randalls Island are the
extensive nurseries and hospitals for poor children. Bellevue
Hospital, the largest in the city, remains under the charge of
the Governors as a fever, surgical, and general hospital. The
Colored Orphan Asylum, Colored Home, four city prisons, and
the out-door poor, are also under the care of this department,
A short sketch of these several charges is essential to a full
knowledge of the city.

Bellevue Hospital is 350 ft. long, the center portion 5 stories
high and the wings 4 stories. Upon each story are verandas
and outside stairways of iron. Its arrangements throughout
are ample and judicious, and it can accommodate 1,350 patients.
It has a clinical theater fitted up for the accommodation of large
classes of students. In 1858 the number of prescriptions was
145,503; and the number of births is about 350 annually.

The results of its operation during 10 years have been as fol¬
lows :—

The Small Pox Hospital, Blackwells Island, was commenced
April 1,1854, and was finished in the same year. It is built, in
the English gothic style, of stone quarried upon the island. It
is 104 ft. by 44, 3 stories high, and cost $38,000. It is not de¬
signed for the treatment of paupers only, but is fitted up with
express reference to receiving persons able and willing to pay
for their treatment, and where, secluded from friends to whom
they might impart their disease, they may receive every atten¬
tion that science and the most attentive nursing can bestow.
It is the only hospital of the kind in or near the city, and takes
the place of some old wooden buildings previously erected on
the island.

Its statistics have been as follows:—

The Penitentiary, opposite 55th St., is built of hewn store
and rubble masonry. It consists of a middle building, 65 by 79
ft., and two wings, each 50 by 200 ft., making the whole length
of the building 465 ft. A new wing was finished in 1859; and
another is needed for the accommodation of the inmates. The
total number of cells is 1,736. The convicts are employed as
occasion requires in quarrying and dressing stone for buildings
upon the island, and " blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters,
weavers, coopers, painters, wheelwrights, &c. This establish¬
ment was finished in 1848,—since which time there have been
admitted and discharged the following numbers:—

Much the largest number of convicts are received from the
police courts; over a third are females, and a very large pro
portion ai'e foreigners. Over half are committed for petit lar-
ceny; and the next largest number for assault and battery.
The term of sentence is usually 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 months; and but
very few are sentenced to 1 year and upward. The longest
term of years reported in 1858 was 10, and this in only a single

The Island, Hospital, Blackwells Island, was first erected m
1848, under the name of the “Penitentiary Hospital.” Its name
was changed Dec. 15,1857. The building was found to be con¬
structed “in a most reckless and careless manner, and as a
public building was a reproach to any city.” It continued in
use, however, until destroyed by fire, Feb, 13, 1858. At the